This is probably the most relaxed I’ve been before the national conference in years. For the first time in several years, I’m not a workshop speaker. Plain and simple, I missed the deadline to submit. :o I enjoy speaking and giving workshops but it does take some of the stress factor out. I also love to fly but it also seems terribly easy to hop in my car for a 45-minute drive and voila…I’m there.
This is my tenth national conference and every year I learn something new and find myself inspired. I won’t sit through workshops all day, but I’m looking forward to “refilling my well” with some sessions.
And speaking of “refilling my well”…there’s the literacy signing. I’ve said it about a gazillion times and I’ll say it again — I don’t write for myself. I write because I want to offer readers the opportunity to laugh and love and occasionally cry through a book — to leave their world behind for a while and join in an adventure. I love meeting readers and talking about books and writing. If you’re attending the literacy signing, please stop by to say hello!
Of course, I’m looking forward to seeing friends I only see once a year. This year is especially exciting as two friends have sold in the last year. Woohoo!!! I can’t wait to share a celebratory drink with the fabulous Kris Starr and Dee Tenorio. I’m also looking forward to meeting new Blaze author Tawny Weber. My conference roomie is from California and this is our once-a-year get together and catch-up time. Unfortunatley, our other roomies couldn’t make it this year.
I suppose I should be nervous about the RITA’s on Saturday night but I’m not. I’m excited that my family (the DH and the Girl) will be there with me but that’s more of a case of them getting a sample of what National is like than being torqued out about whether I win or not. That outcome’s already been decided by the judges and while it’d be great to win, it’s been a fun ride either way. 
All of that said, it’s also a fact that crowds make me nervous. I’m also GREAT with faces but LOUSY with names…and then I get nervous and it just confounds the name thing. (Once I was introducing my next-door neighbor of 12 years at a party. This woman and I walked together every morning. I just blanked out. I finally had to lean into her ear and ask her to remind me of her name. Jennifer. How sad is that?) So, please don’t be offended if you say hello and I have to check your name badge.
I can’t wait to share that drink with you, too! (d)
I hear you on the crowd thing, Jen. I love nationals, too, but the whole thing can get overwhelming at times — which is when I escape to the hotel room for a little while. :) Just as a sanity saver. :d
And we’ll be cheering our guts out for you — you’d better believe that!
Comment by Kris Starr — July 22, 2006 @ 7:53 pm
I hear you on the hotel room as a sanity saver. But much like The Girl, it’s hard for me to do that cause I’m afraid I’m missing out on something. Gee, wonder where she gets that from. :p
Comment by Jennifer — July 22, 2006 @ 9:49 pm
Hope you have a wonderful time at the conference. Cheers (d)
Comment by Ginger — July 24, 2006 @ 9:57 am
I’ve been out of town but had to say, I loved your note about ‘There’s no place like home.’ It is true no matter where or who you are. But I may sneak in your trunk next time you go back… Besides,I haven’t seen your mama in quite awhile… :)
LOL about your elementary school principal. I swear you and I went to different High Schools together.
Enjoy the convention. Remember, pretty much everyone is in the overwhelmed-mode. Fingers crossed for the Rita announcement - you better call me.
Comment by Ellen — July 24, 2006 @ 11:38 am
have fun 8)
Comment by kim — July 25, 2006 @ 9:40 am
I hope you are having a blast in Atlanta
Comment by Judy f — July 27, 2006 @ 4:06 pm
Hey Jennifer, it was great meeting you and thank you for signing my 3 copies of Highland Fling
I hope you had lots of fun at RWA - as a reader going for the first time, it was an amazing experience. Everyone was so wonderful and gracious. I would definitely go again.
Comment by Stacy ~ — July 30, 2006 @ 2:42 pm
Ooooh -I wish I’d read this before conference! I saw you a couple times, but always when you were busy so I didn’t try and interrupt to introduce myself. :(
It was such a FABULOUS conference - and an incredible Blaze Birthday Party!!!
Comment by Tawny — August 1, 2006 @ 12:38 am
Stacy, it was great meeting you and I was more than happy to sign those books for you! :d I also got to meet Marilyn and that was great. I love to put a name with a face! Aww, Tawny, I realized when i was leaving on Sunday that I hadn’t met you. The Blaze party was such a crush and then the Harlequin party was dark and noisy and I left kind of early. :o
Comment by Jen — August 1, 2006 @ 10:04 am
:s Where are your pictures? I =know= you took some!
Missed you this year, but there’s always next year.
Comment by Rae — August 1, 2006 @ 1:13 pm